Top five biggest names in Brazil's squad for India friendly
Vinicius Jr returns to India a decade later.
The five-time world champions and the most successful team in the history of the FIFA World Cup, Brazil, are set to set foot on Indian soil for the first time as they take on the Blue Tigers on October 3rd 2026.
The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, also referred to as the Mecca of Indian football, gears up to host the biggest game in the history of Indian football.
With just a few weeks left for the big game against India, Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti has announced his final squad that will be travelling to Asia for three friendlies. The South American giants will play two friendlies against Australia in Townsville and Brisbane before heading to the City of Joy to play against India.
As Brazil navigates through a generational transition, Carlo Ancelotti has dropped several veterans and picked up a relatively younger side with many players featuring from the Brazilian top flight.
In this article, we take a closer look at the top five names travelling to India for the big game against the Blue Tigers in the City of Joy.
5. Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)
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The 28-year-old Brazilian defender led one of the tightest defences last season in Europe and England. The Sao Paulo defender won the Premier League with Arsenal and took the Gunners to the UEFA Champions League final before missing a crucial penalty against PSG in the shootout.
Magalhaes played every single minute for Brazil in their FIFA World Cup campaign and even gave an assist and managed to keep two clean sheets against Scotland and Haiti.
He is one of the best defenders in world football today, and his presence in defence will be nothing short of a nightmare for Australian and Indian strikers.
4. Raphinha (FC Barcelona)
Raphinha’s exclusion from the 30-man 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist did raise a lot of eyebrows after he had come off a brilliant season with the Catalans, scoring 21 goals and giving 7 assists in just 33 games.
Despite a lacklustre performance in the FIFA World Cup 2026, where he managed to start two games for Brazil, he is a live wire on the left flank. He kick-started the new season after scoring three braces against Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Feyenoord recently in the UCL fixtures.
Read More: Is Vinicius Jr part of Brazil squad for India friendly?
3. Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal)
The Brazilian midfielder made a high-profile switch from St. James’ Park to the Emirates after finding his new home with reigning English champions Arsenal. His most recent international game in Brazil colours saw him miss a crucial penalty against Norway in the first quarter of the game.
The Arsenal midfielder, who is recovering from a minor injury, will eye redemption as Brazil looks for stability in the midfield, especially after the departure of veterans like Fabinho and Casemiro.
2. Marquinhos (PSG)
After Magalhaes missed the penalty against PSG in the UCL Finals, Brazil and PSG’s captain Marquinhos, instead of celebrating with his own team right away, ran over to hug Gabriel. One of the few captains to win back-to-back UEFA Champions League title, Marquinhos has been in sublime form.
The former Corinthians defender joined PSG back in 2013 and has rendered his services to the French giants for over a decade now. He was also part of the Brazil team that won the Copa America back in 2019 after winning gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
1. Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
One of the best wingers in modern-day football and one of the strongest contenders to win the Ballon d’Or, Vini emerged as one of the best players for Brazil in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after scoring 4 goals and giving an assist in five games.
As the new generation of Brazilian football looks forward to carrying forward the legacy of Neymar Jr, Vinicius will have a big role to play in this new and exciting era. The two-time Champions League winner has previously come and scored against India in the 2016 BRICS U-17 Football Cup in Goa.
Is Vinicius Jr a part of the Brazil squad playing against India?
Yes, Vinicius Jr will be a part of the Brazil squad playing against India.
Who are some notable names that will be playing against India?
Some notable names that will be playing against India are Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, Bruno Guimarães, Endrick, Rapinha, Vinicius Jr.
When will Brazil play India?
Brazil will play India on October 3rd at the VYBK Stadium in Kolkata.
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